Martin Scorsesehas paid tribute toDavid Johansen, whodied on Feb. 28at age 75.
With David Johansen, it started with the music, of course.
Actually, with a New York Dolls song, Personality Crisis.
David Johansen and Martin Scorsese attend a screening of ‘Personality Crisis: One Night Only’ on Oct. 13, 2022.Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for FLC
I heard that song, I cant remember when or where, and it stayed with me.
I listened to it obsessively, Scorsese said in a statement shared withRolling Stone.
The sound was rough, the playing was raw, the voice was wildly theatrical and immediate.
And the energy was New York, 100 percent pure and uncut, right off the streets.
After the Dolls broke up, I kept watching and listening to David.
There was the Buster Poindexter alter ego.
With Buster, I can do anything I want, he said in the film.
People arent expecting something else.
They come because its unexpected what Im gonna do.
They kind of trust that its gonna be good, and its always good.
In the documentary, he tells the story in-between songs at a performance at Cafe Carlyle.
[Morrissey] called me, and he said, I understand youre a pretty big Maria Callas fan.
Johansen explained in the doc.
And I said, Yes, I happen to be known for that in certain circles.
I said, Yes, by heart.
He said, How would you like to play the Royal Festival Hall?…
All you have to do is get the Dolls back together.
And I thought, Royal Festival Hall, Maria Callas…
I combed every opium den in Chinatown, and I pulled that band together.
What a remarkable artist.
What an amazing man.
I was so lucky to have known him.
I just wish there had been more time.
